Distributed Infrastructure Toolkit
Water and climate change are inextricably linked. Extreme weather events are making water more scarce, more unpredictable, more polluted or all three.
WaterNow is a non-profit consultancy and member network of local leaders working to advance climate-resilient water strategies nationwide.
Water will be the primary climate change delivery device for most people in the US and around the globe. Our work to expand and accelerate the adoption of innovative, green, One Water strategies is more urgent than ever.
The challenge
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Every 2-3 days
A US town or city faces an urban flooding event
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By 2030
Nearly all of the Western US is anticipated to face high or extremely high levels of water stress
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Only 13% of utilities
Feel fully prepared to meet long-term water supply needs
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WaterNow is working to secure the future of water by making green, nature-based and distributed infrastructure the norm alongside conventional systems.
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Conservation & Efficiency
Conservation & Efficiency
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Distributed Infrastructure
Distributed Infrastructure
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Community Engagement
Community Engagement
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Conservation & Efficiency
Conservation & Efficiency
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Distributed Infrastructure
Distributed Infrastructure
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Community Engagement
Community Engagement
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Distributed Infrastructure
Distributed Infrastructure
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Funding & Financing
Funding & Financing
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Conservation & Efficiency
Conservation & Efficiency
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Distributed Infrastructure
Distributed Infrastructure
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Funding & Financing
Funding & Financing
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Conservation & Efficiency
Conservation & Efficiency
The future of water
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Local communities shoulder the burden for 95% of spending on drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. Local decision makers thus play a vital role in shaping the water sector’s response to the changing climate and other challenges.
WaterNow creates One Water pathways for communities to invest in resilient, affordable, and environmentally-sustainable water solutions, from graywater reuse to urban tree canopies to upstream source water protections and so much more.
Our focus is scale – moving these strategies from nice-to-haves to the center of utility spending, to expand adoption of innovative tech and green solutions across communities. Although each project may seem small, the ripple effect is huge.
Our impact
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25M
People served
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11000 AF
Water saved per year
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$960M
Total funding leveraged
Meet our Community
We support utilities nationwide. Hear about our members’ experiences working with WaterNow.
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Hattie Portis-Jones
Councilmember
“I’ve worked with WaterNow for many years and can’t say enough about the great work they do. WaterNow is an excellent resource for all municipal elected leaders responsible for water services for their communities, especially those of us who are not water experts but are the ultimate decision makers on rates, infrastructure and affordability.”
Hattie Portis-Jones
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Angela Bricmont
Chief Financial Officer
“WaterNow has been an excellent resource and partner for Denver Water as we’ve explored how to most cost effectively finance our lead line replacement program. The WaterNow team understands the challenges facing water utilities and is smart, innovative and programmatic.”
Angela Bricmont
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Kristin Stephens
Councilmember
I have been a WaterNow Alliance member for almost a decade, first as a City Councilmember and now as a County Commissioner. WaterNow Alliance has always provided sustainable, practical solutions and grant opportunities for local water utilities. Although Larimer County is not a water provider, we have created a water master plan, and serve as a convener and a resource for smaller non-municipal water providers throughout our county. I find WaterNow’s webinars and solutions invaluable as I work on water resiliency in my community.
Kristin Stephens
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Adam Steurer
Utilities Director
“I came to WaterNow through the Transformative Water Leadership Academy. Participating in TWLA helped prepare me for my role as Utilities Director, and reinforced in me that transformative leadership means taking holistic, community-centered approaches to managing water. WaterNow continues to support my journey as a water leader.”
Adam Steurer
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Pat Showalter
Councilmember
“My nearly a decade as a WaterNow member has been truly invaluable. WaterNow is a wellspring of unique support and resources for City Council members who are elected to office and find that they are now the ultimate decision makers for their community’s water utilities.”
Pat Showalter
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Kyla Prendergast
Senior Environmental Planner
“The WaterNow Alliance has been indispensable in building Pittsburgh’s GSI capacity. Without their support we would not have been able to get this vacant lot to GSI program off the ground. They helped us access funding and resources that would have been otherwise inaccessible, and they provided national connections that helped contextualize our work in Pittsburgh with other similar cities to see a real vision for a decentralized, sustainable stormwater management system in Pittsburgh.“
Kyla Prendergast
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Erika Strassburger
Councilmember
“WaterNow’s assistance with green infrastructure planning is helping Pittsburgh to invest in our community and our environment.”
Erika Strassburger
tools & GUIDES
WaterNow has developed unique toolkits, guides, and other resources to help utilities make the best possible water infrastructure decisions and deliver tangible benefits for local residents with minimal impact on the environment.
Regional Guides
How to finance nature-based stormwater solutions in the Great Lakes
Regional Guides
How to access the Colorado State Revolving Fund
join us
WaterNow members get free access to technical assistance, toolkits, training, and our network of local water leaders.